Filing folder



A. EFRON FILING FOLDER Sept. 25, 1945.

Filed March a, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO Alemmz' oRN s Sept. 25, 1945.

A. EFRON FILING FOLDER 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1944 INVENTOR Alexanderfi from ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 25, 1945 FILING FOLDER Alexander Efron, New York, N. Y., assignor to Checkmaster Plan Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application Marcus, 1944, Serial No. 525,505

8 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to filing folders, and has particular reference to certain (improvements in a folder of the kind, which stands upright in a stack of similar folders arranged one behind the other.

A general object of my invention is to provide a filing folder of such special structural nature that it is admirably suited for usev in connection with certain specialized bookkeeping procedures. The folder is, primarily intended for use in banks, but it will be understood that certain phases of my invention are not necessarily restricted to the employment of the folder for such specific purpose. The invention is of such a character that it may prove to be applicable, by users or institutions other than banks, for purposes analagous to those hereinafter to be described.

In normal practice, a bank having checkingaccount customer maintains an individual record, in the form of a ledger sheet or statement, for each customer. As and when deposits are made by the customer, or checks of the customer are presented for payment, it becomes necessary for the bank to make suitable entries upon this ledger sheet, either charging r crediting the customer, as the case may be. In the case of checks presented for payment, it is necessary at the same time for the bank to compare the customer's signature with the signature card or similar record which the bank has on hand. At the end of each month or other regular accounting period, the bank usually furnishes a complete statement to the customer, showing the transactions which have taken place, and the resulting balance. At that time, it is also regular practice for of time. This is due to the unavoidable bulk of such check vouchers, and the problem is complicated by the disparity of size between a conventional check and the size of a filing folder adequate to accommodate a ledger sheet.

It is one of [the more particular objects of my present invention to provide a filing folder which is uniquely adapted to accommodate not only a ledger sheet of conventional character, but also an accumulation of check vouchers, without causing the undue increase in thickness, as vouchers accumulate, which has heretofore been encountered. My improved construction provides a means for safely accommodating and supporting an accumulation of check vouchers in a minimum amount of space.

A particular feature of my invention resides ,in the provision of a filing folder having means the bank to return to the customer the cancelled checks or vouchers which have been paid.

This procedure obviously involves considerable time-consuming manipulations of signature cards, ledger sheets, check vouchers and the like. It has heretofore been recognized that the procedure can be simplified by providing an individual filing folder for each customer and retaining each customers check vouchers in his particular folder at the time and place of the corresponding entries on the customers ledger sheet. This practice has heretofore been adopted by a number of banks, but has given rise to an entirely different problem, viz., that of space. Thus, if a group of filing folders normally occupies, say, two feet of space in a filing cabinet or equivalent box or the like, the same folders may be found to require twice or three times this amount of space, or even more, after check vouchers have been accumulated over a period for supporting within it at least one stack, and preferably a plurality of stacks, of check vouchers, arranged end upwards. By means of this arrangement, I am enabled to achieve a more efficient correlation between the available area within the filing folder and the volume necessarily occupied by a multiplicity of accumulated check vouchers.

The present improved construction has an additional advantage in facilitating and speeding up the manipulations which are periodically required to remove the accumulated vouchers from their respective foldersfor'the purpose of forwarding them to the banks customers along with theirrespective statements. This procedure may be rendered uniquely efiicient where certain modifications of the folder, hereinafter to be set forth, are resortedto.

A further feature of my invention lies in an arrangement whereby the present improved folder affords an opportunity for conveniently retaining the customers signature card in direct association with the folder, thereby facilitating the work and timerequired not only in creating a folder for a newly established account, and in thereafter accurately identifying each filing folder and distinguishing it from others, but also in, enabling the bookkeeper to verify signatures quickly and with a minimum amount of effort at the time and place that corresponding bookkeeping entries are to be made.

These advantages, and others, are achieved by means of a structure which is of extremely simple and inexpensive character, being preferably formed of a simple one-piece blank of cardboard or its equivalent.

I achieve [the foregoing objects and advantages,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the folder opened;

Figure-3 -is an'enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the single blank-of which the folder may be formed;

Figure 5 is a view similarztorFigure rl illustrat ing a modification;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the folder of Figure 5, shown open, and showing how the folder is manipulated when accumulated vouchers are to be removed;

t Figure 7 isa. plan View of the single blank vof which'thelfolder of'Figure 5 maybe'formed; and

."Figureiljis an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of "Figure"5.

Referring ifirst to "Fi ures 1-4, 'I have found thatiiniforming thefolder it is advantageous to start with a'substantially rectangular blank Ill ,oficardboar'd or ithe;like, Ithis blank being provided-withtransverseihingeiines II and I? which a,

divide 'thefblarik into the three sections I3, [4 and l5. "The hinge lines are soarranged that 'thejse'ctions 1I13 and |4 maybe folded into superposed relationship to define front and rearileaves, respectively, the 'front 1 eaf'being of slightly less height than'the rear leaf as indicated most clearlyin. Figures 1 and 3. The section l5 is of such ajsize'thatit may'be folded inwards into a po- Isitionlb'etween the leaves 13 and M to define an intermediat'e'panel which extends almost to the hinge'line H, as ,indicatedmost clearly in Figur 2.

For apurpose presently to be described, U- shaped ,cuts'jlffi are formed'inthe blank, extending'partiallyacrossithe ,hinge line 1| I, to define ila'ps IThinge'd to the leaf l3 along the hinge lines 18. The hinge lines [3 are parallel to the hingelin'elil, and are relatively close to the lattersoithatithe'integralflaps H may befolded bagck'jontdthe -leafm to "form upstanding abutments of yiel dable,re'silient character.

Adjacent "to 'ithehinge line TIZ it is preferable toprovi cle a narrow U'-shaped cut'l'fi whiohforms anfiindextab "121) ultimately projectin upwardly fromithe panel .l5'as shown iniFigures'l and'2.

"The'panel IBis "divided by transverse hinge lines and 2?. into an upper'portion (lying between the hingejlin'es '12 and22) ,a lower portion '(lyingbetweenithe:hingeline 2| and 'the free edg eioflthe'panel), and a relatively narrow conhector strip "2 3' lyingbetween'the hinge lines 2| an dizl In the connector strip 23,i. e.,ibetween the npperand'lo'wer.portions of the panel l5, I provide "at least .one substantially rectangular slit 'or aperture. I'have illustratively shown three such apertures arranged side by side in align ment'with one another and designated by the referencenumeral'fil. For a purpose presently tobe described, each aperture 24 communicates with a slightly narrower opening"25 formed in the-upper'portion'of the panel 15 and extending for "a substantial distance toward the hinge line f2. i

'The' panel l'5is alsoprovided with a series of U-shaped slits or cuts. 26 arrangedin'apredetermined relationship so as to define integral tabs 21 as shown in Figure 2.

It will be observed that the blank [0 of Figure 4 is of simple and economical nature, and may be produced in large quantities and at low cost by simple stamping and scoring procedures. A supply of such blanks may be conveniently shipped and stored in compact stacked relationship,='to be iadjusted intoifolder'formias and when required.

When a folder of the present improved charac- Iter is to be created, the flaps I! are first folded upwardly along the lines l8, and the blank l0 'isthen folded along the lines H and I2 so as :to bring ithe :parts :into superposed relationships LWithzthe ipanel ilfirarranged between the leaves 'l3 and l l, and with its lower portion behind the flaps 4]. Apart from a further function which will presently be described; the flaps I1, due to theiinherent resilience of the material along the hinge lines I8, serve yieldably to press and .retain the (panel [5 against the rear folder leaf l'dyan'dserve also'to constantly urge the front and reanleaves l3 andl4 into an opened or separated'relationship,

By bending the panel 'I'5 slightly, along the hingelinesZl and 22, 'the'lower portion Vofthe panel is'brought into a position spaced "slightly forwardly from the rearleaf M, as indicated mostcl-earlyiniigure 2, therebyformingia pocket between the lower "portion of thepanel '15 and the'rearfolder leaf N. Thisservesito position the connector 'strip23 in the slightly inclined relationship shown in Figure'Z, so that 'the'apertures '24 are readily receptive to the insertion through themyfromthetop, ofthe check'vouchas which are to 'be' accommodated inthe' pocket. The ihinge'd "relationship of "the connector strip '23- serves also topermit "expansion and contraction of'the-pocket.

When "the "folder iscreated, the customers signature card 218 is inserted into the position shown, b'eing'engaged and supported bytheitabs '21 so that'the' cutomersname, account number, and

similar-identifying infjormation'are readily visible movable fashion and mayireadi'lylbe replacedlby another should this'become'desirable,

"Theindextab'i'llisnot absolutely essential, and is provided "for" the .purpose of facilitating theoperation ofthumbing throughastackof folders Withoutsubjecting-the signature cards'liiiv to unduehan'dling. The .tabllfl.serves also as. a convenient means for ,graspingfthe folderitopermit its removal-froma stackiofisim'ilar.folders. ,Obviously, if .desired, additionalv indexing information orthe like. may .becprinted. or-otherwise providediontthe taba20.

At the time When -,-the fold er -is created, with the customers -signature ,card2=8 associated :there- :with, there is also insertedinto the. fold'erlatledger sheet 2:9. 'This'isheet may heron-any suitable size or character, an'd need not. bezdescribed or illusitratedini detail since -such ledger sheets-are well known per se. lt-may consist of a singleply or it -may consist of two or --more 'la'yers in superposed relationship with-duplicating means, such as; carbon paper'orthe like, arrangecrbetween the plies. 'The"sheet"29 is preferably of .such a: size ithatiit may tfin'd support .uponlthehingef lines 48 (see Figure 3) and will not project upwardly beyond the top edge of the front leaf l 3.

The folder is then ready to be stacked or filed with other similar folders arranged one behind the other in a suitable filing cabinet or container, the pressure of these folders, one upon the other, serving to counteract the yieldable pressure of the resilient flaps ll, thereby keeping the folders in closed condition.

Whenever an entry is to be made upon a eutomers ledger sheet, the customers folder is separated from the other folders to an extent suificient to permit the flaps I! to urge the front and rear leaves I3 and [4 into separated relationship. The degree of separation need not be as great as that shown in Figure 2, the opening of the folder being shown to an exaggerated extent in this Figure to reveal the interior structure. The customers ledger sheet is then withdrawn by the bookkeeper and after the suitable entries have been made, it is returned to the folder.

Whenever an entry being made by the bookkeeper arises from the presentation of a check which was drawn by the customer, the verification of the signature may tiously and in a minimum amount of time, since the customers signature card 28 is directly at hand and need not be independently searched for or examined in any separate file. Furthermore, the check voucher may be immediately filed and stored in the present folder so that further handling or sorting procedures, with all the possibilities of error which such additional handling might entail, are completely avoided.

The retention of the check voucher is accomplished by merely inserting it endwise into one of the apertures 24. These apertures are so arranged with respect to the bottom hinge line II that when the voucher has been fully inserted into the pocket, its lower edge lies adjacent to the hinge line H while the upper end projects from the pocket. From time to time, additional check vouchers are thus inserted into the pocket in the form of a stack or stacks arranged end upwards. Where three apertures are formed, the pocket is thus enabled to accommodate three separate stacks. As a result of this arrangement many more vouchers may be accumulated in the present folder than in any conventional type of folder, without unduly enlarging the folder from front to back. Stated otherwise, a series of folders of the present character, arranged one behind the other in a filing cabinet or box, will accommodate an equal accumulation of check vouchers in considerably. less over-all space than would ordinarily be required.

Merely by way of example, Figure 2 illustrates two stacks 30 of check vouchers, accommodated, respectively, in the two right-hand apertures 24. The aperture 24 at the left of this figure has not as yet been employed to accommodate any vouchers. It will be observed that the flaps H are so positioned that they serve as abutments for the lower ends of the stacks 30. Obviously, while three flaps I! may be provided if desired, i. e., one for each stack of vouchers, two such flaps are sufficient for the purpose when they are arranged, as shown, in staggered relationship to the stacks which are to be accommodated.

The openings 25 in panel 15 serve the purpose of allowing the upper portions of the stacks 30 to accommodate themselves more readily in substantially upright relationships to the folder as a whole.

At the end of the month or other regular acbe attended to expedithe upper portion of the counting period, it is a relatively simple matter for an employee of the bank to reach into each folder, grasp and remove upwardly whatever stack or stacks of accumulated vouchers may be in the folder, and insert them, along with the customers statement, into an envelope. If desired, the ledger sheet 29 may constitute this statement and it is thus possible for the employee directly to associate each bundle of accumulated vouchers with the corresponding statement, with a minimum possibility of error.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 5-8, the folder has been shown, for illustrative purposes, as being of a slightlynarrower character intended to accommodate only two stacks of accumulated vouchers. In numerous other respects, as well, the folder of Figures 5-8 is slightly different in structure and mode of use from the folder of Figures 1-4. l

Essentially, the folder is of the same generic character, being formed of a single blank of sheet material, such as cardboard, as illustrated in Figure '7. The blank is substantially rectangular and is divided by transverse hinge lines 3| and 32 into sections 33, 34 and 35. The section 33, when folded upwardly onto the section 34, forms the front leaf of the folder, and it will be observed that it is of slightly less height than the rear leaf 34. Along one margin, the front leaf 33 is provided with the cut-out 36, which permits the balance column of a ledger sheet 31 to be constantly visible without requiring that the folder be specially opened to reveal this information.

For a purpose presently to be described, the leaf 34 is provided near the hinge line 32 with the lateral recesses or openings 38, each of which is large enough to permit passage of a bookkeepers finger.

35 constitutes a panel which is folded downwardly, along the hinge line 32, into a position lying between the leaves 33 and 34. Two hinge lines 39 and 4D divide this panel into an upper portion (between the hinge lines 32 and 40), a lower portion (between the hinge line 39 and the free edge of the panel), and a relatively narrow connector strip lying between the hinge lines 39 and 4H. vided, side by side, in this connector strip, thereby defining openings through which vouchers may be inserted endwise into the pocket that is formed between the rear leaf 34 and the lower portion of the panel 35.

To accommodate a signature card 42, or similar element of informational character, the upper portion of the panel 35 is provided with the four slits 43 int-o which the corners of the card 42 may be tucked, in well-known fashion.

It will be observed that this folder is devoid of any upstanding tab at the upper edge defined by the hinge line 32, and is also devoid of any springy elements such as those shown at l! in Figures 1-4. One reason why these abutments may be omitted arises from the fact that a mailing envelope 44 is intended to be used with this folder. This envelope is inserted into the folder through the open side of the pocket so that the lower edge of the envelope finds support along the hinge line 3|, the envelope opening upwards and having its flap 45 lying flat against the rear leaf 34.

The folder has a length, parallel to the hinge line 3|, sufficient to accommodate the mailing envelope 44 in the manner described; and the envelope, in turn, is of sufficient length so that its opening is receptively positioned with respect to The section Two apertures 4| are pro- :sprove desirable) with one or the rapertures llrthrough whichicheckvonchers areanserted.

hen .eza acustom'erfis rfolderjs zfirsttestablished, themartsxnre .zbrought :into l the :relationships sshowniineFigure'fi. :The;.signature card ltserves :toiidentify :theifolder, rtheibalancensheetvfi Misanserted between the front :leaf 13.3 :and ttherpanel 3:5, and the: mailing :envelope its sis :positi'oned in ithe; pocket,1as .rlescribed. Wheneven' amentmissto Joe? made :on the. 'customerlsiledgerzsheetgthisasheet is withdrawn from the folder andz'subsequentlyreinsertedinto thexfolder, andthecurrent -baiance .is :always visible :for inspection. Where the raccounting transaction :involves the :entry :of a charge arising from the .presentation of. aroustomers check, the check vouncher :iyinserted: directly into one orthe other of thefapertures 4|, and its lower :end thus .finds support within i-the envelope 43. As these check vouchers :accumulat-e. during-a selectedv accounting, period, verticalily-arranged stacks are formed, each stacksliaving Zitsuppenportionprojecting from the pocket-and having its lower ,portion accommodated within :the mailing envelope 84. For illustrative: purposes, twosuch stacks 46 have been shoWndnrFigure 6, :andone. of these stacksis. shown in Figure 8.

When the time arrives for the periodic state- 'ment to .besent-:to the .customer, along with the accumulated vouchers,the-operat0r -.opens the .foldenasshown inFigure \thefinger openings-38he is enabledtoswinguthe panel :35 forwardly and upwardly (in-213119 direction of the arrow 6101' Figure 6) until thepanel =is:clear "of the upper ends of the'stacks d5. .Dur- .ing this manipulation, these stacks remainingpozsition'within the envelope '44, and-the envelope itself remains in place. :It is then a relatiVelyssimple matter to remove the envelope from the. folder :and to adjust the stacker-stacks as through-90 'so as to insert them fully within .theconfinesof the envelope. =If aystatement isto accompany thesevouchers, it is inserted into the envelope at the same time.

:-A=new-and empty envelope is then reinserted into the folder togetherwitha new-ledger sheeti'or statement-and the 'folderzis then ready :for use 4 during .the succeeding accounting period.

.By constructing the "folder in the *manner shown,'so that'the storage of the-check vouchers involves a-direct insertion into theultimate mailing envelope, the possibility of error .215 -;greatly minimized, as will be readily understood. This desirable result is achieved without any..-saerifioe :of'the space-saving features inherent in the basic --concept of :accommodating .the vouchers :in the form of -a stack or stacks arranged: end :upwa-r'ds in the folder.

Obviously, the advantageous -features :of -:the :folder in Figure maybe incorporated inaa-folder shaving provision for three ormore vertically-aw ranged stacks, and :may be combined (shouldlit more of the-other .structuralfeatures shown in Figures l.- i.

In general, it will "be understoodthattthe de- -=tails herein described; and illustrated to explain the general: nature of the invention may --read-i.ly :be modifiedby those skilled .in-the art withoutxde- {parting from-thespiritand scope of the invenat-ion as expressed in the-appended claims. '.=Ac-

cordingly, these details, except as specifically set forth .in the claims, are to' be considered purely illustrative.

.Having thus. described my. invention and-illusatra-tedits use, what 'Irclairn. as new. and..desire "insecurebyLettersPatentis:

6, andawith the aid .of

"a plurality of aligned egessgee'r :tomaedgespand meanssassociatedwith one of said rleaveslffor.supporting Within the folder at least :onerstack of check :vouchers arranged *end upwardsgsaid .rneansi'comprising a panel hinged toisaidleafralong the latters upper edge and extending downwardly into the 1 folder, .1 said panel having an -.upper :portion lying fiat against said -leafp a lower *portion spaced slightly i from said leaf .--and defining :one :wall of 1 a pocket between sai'dipanel an'dleafi said panel beingprovided in the rregionxbetweensaid -:portions with a plurality of aligned .rapertures throughwhich said vouchers may beinserted endwise into said pocket .in separate:stacks.

3. A filing folder s comprising front and rear leaves hingedly connected only along their :bottom edges, :and means'associated -with one-of said :leaves for supporting -=within the folder at least one stack of check vouchers arranged endlupwards; said :means comprisingaa panel hinged to said "leaf alo-ng the latters upper "edge and extending downwardlyinto the folder, said panel having :an :upper portion i lying ifiat against said leaf, 51a 1 lower portion spaced slightly from said deaf :and i defining lone wall of i a -pocket :-between asaid :pan'el andileaf, and an inclined connector \stripbetween said :portions "and h-inged thereto itO aHGW expansion and 'contra'ction of sai'd pocket,

said panel being provided'iwith a plurality of wapertures arranged side by side in-said connector rstrip through which said serted en-'dwise I into said vouchers may the inpocket in separate stacks,said connector strip being so positione'd w-ith res-pect to the lowerih-inge line of thes 'folder thatiztherlower endof each-stack will lie adjacent to said nge l-ine' while the'upper end projects "out :of -said pocket "through the corresponding aperture.

4. -*A filing folder as :set forth in claimi 2, sai'd :upper I portion of Iithe ipanel 'havins openings therein narrower ithan sand communicating "refacilitate the "5. A filing folder comprising -a "single 'blankof "cardboard or '"the l-ike fo'lded upon itself along parallel lines to define "front and rear leaves 'hingedly connected onlyalong their bottom edges and -a panllying between said leavesan'd' hingedly conn-ectedonlyat-its upperedgetothe upper edge Of said' panel" defining 'one'wall 'of a 'po'cket between one of said leaves, the lower portion of said panel' andthe'leaf to. which it is" hinged; and

apertures in the' midportion. of said panelthrough which check vouchers maybe.inserted..endwise into said pocket in the 'form of. separateIstacks-ea'ch of which is thereby supporteiderid .upwardsrwithin 'thejfolder.

The combination with ma 'Sfilihg. folderi -as...set forth claim=-.-1, of a-mailingrenvelope arranged at the bottom of said pocket with its opening upwards so as to receive and accommodate the lower ends of said stacks.

'7. A bankers filing folder of the kind which stands upright in a stack of similar folders arranged one behind the other,-said folder comprising front and rear leaves hingedly connected only along their bottom edges, said leaves being of such size as to accommodate between them a flat forwardly-facing ledger sheet of a banking customer, the front leaf having a lateral edge out back to form a vertical recess through which the balance column of said ledger sheet is constantly exposed, and a panel hinged along its upper edge to the upper edge of the rear leaf and extending downwardly into the folder behind said ledger sheet, said panel and rear leaf defining a pocket between them, said panel being provided in its midportion with spaced aligned apertures through which the customers check vouchers corresponding to the entries on said ledger sheet may be inserted endwise into said pocket in the form of separate stacks each of which is thereby supported end upwards within the folder behind said ledger sheet.

8. A bankers filing folder comprising the combination, with the structure and elements set forth in claim 7, of a mailing envelope removably accommodated within said pocket and resting upon the lower hinge line of the folder, said envelope having its mouth upward and its flap lying open against the rear leaf of the folder so that said stacks extend downwardly directly into said envelope.

ALEXANDER EFRON. 

